Lightning sliced through the chilly night air, splitting the sky into two. It lighted up the sky illuminating a single figure swooping gracefully through the sky. As if on cue, torrents of rain poured down from the sky. It was truly a majestic and intimidating sight. Thunder roared and children screamed in terror and fear while their mothers tried to comfort and console them. The more imaginative children decided that someone up in heaven was watering the plants and trees on Earth and someone else was banging cymbals together and fearlessly crept out of bed to enjoy the magnificent sight.
However, no one noticed that solitary figure gliding through the stormy sky with almost lyrical grace except for a little child. His eyes went as wide and round as marbles as he suddenly remembered the stories his parents had told him about spiritual beings known as guardian angels who had wings and would protect and guide you throughout your whole life. Silently, he watched the figure, his eyes never straying.
Forcing his eyes open to make sure he wasn't going to go splat or anything, Warren's eagle-sharp eyesight suddenly spotted a thin ghostly face at a window staring at him. His blood turned to ice and he stiffened immediately. He dived down like a bird of prey that had its eye on a midnight snack and came face to face with a young child. The child was shivering and trembling in fear. Silently, he chided himself for scaring himself into actually thinking someone wanted to blow him out of the sky and for scaring the child. Now the child would probably scream and his parents would come running in, stare at him and start yelling 'monster' or worse still 'mutie'. But the child did not open his mouth. Instead, Warren saw in his eyes wonder and happiness.
" Huh?"
The kid repeated again, his eyes getting rounder by the minute, " Sir, are you an angel?"
Oh man, the kid really did think he was an angel! Laughingly he replied, "I was once known as 'Angel' but that was a long time ago. People now call me 'Archangel'."
" Oh wow!!!" And all of a sudden, the kid's eyes bulged out and he choked and turned almost purple. Warren watched him warily, wondering if he was going to puke or something. Instead, he coughed and looked up admiringly at Warren, his eyes shining with pure delight.
" You...you mean you were so good that God promoted you?!" he squeaked.
Warren spluttered then started laughing. The kid stared at him in fascination. It was Warren's turn to go purple now, purple with laughing. Finally he stopped laughing and rolling on the ground like a maniac and sat up.
" Ahem......Cough.....excuse me......hahahahahahaha! Cough, cough, gasp....excuse me. Well, to tell you the truth, I'm *not* an angel at all. I'm a mutant you see and my friends call me "Archangel' because of my wings."
" A... a...mutant? What's a..........." The kid's voice died off and suddenly, all the adoration that Warren had seen earlier in his eyes was gone. In its place now, was a look of pure terror. Warren's heart sank to his boots and he felt like it had been shattered to pieces. This sweet kid that had thought he was an angel was a mutant-hater. Grimly, he waited for the long anticipated scream.
He bit his lip and frowned thoughtfully as his mind churned. He struggled with the conflicting emotions that washed over leaving him more and more confused each time. He took a quick look at Warren's face which had suddenly hardened into an emotionless mask. Warren seemed cold, hard and unfeeling now, waiting for him to make his move. But his eyes betrayed his rough exterior. They were filled with pain and sadness so deep that the kid wanted to cry. He made up his mind and began to open his mouth.
" Hi, I'm Warren and yeah, I'm a mutant."
They talked till early morning. Warren told him about the X-men, why the group was formed and his adventures as an X-man. Jimmy then told Warren about his parents and what they taught him about mutants. When suddenly.............
The door slammed open. " Jimmy it's time to wak.............aaahhhiieeeeeeeee!"
Jimmy's parents had woken up. And Warren's ears would be ringing for the rest of the day if he didn't go immediately. In the twinkling of an eye, he was out of the window and soaring into a fresh new day.